Evaluation of cerebral blood flow in premature newborns by duplex scanning using a high resolution probe.

The evaluation of cerebral blood flow in premature newborns offers interesting information about cerebral circulation and, physiological flow variations. Using a high resolution probe as the Access 10 of the ATL ultramark 4 duplex scanner it was possible to define flow in the anterior cerebral artery and in the middle cerebral artery in newborns without significant pathology. This study was performed in premature babies both to evaluate the best technical solution to study these small arteries and to define a standard of flow to be used in future evaluations. By the 10 MHz focus (on the variable focus probe 5-7.5 and 10 MHz) it was observed that a smaller variation of flow determinations is obtained by the 10 MHz focus (both for the middle and anterior cerebral arteries). In conclusion duplex scanning offers probably the best solution to evaluate cerebral blood flow in premature newborns both in qualitative and quantitative way.